Page 45 of Don't Game Me
“Perhaps all that’s true. But you’re not a hermit who keeps everyone at a distance. You’re social. You care about those around you. This anti-relationship thing is a problem. Have you talked to anyone about it?”
Yes. Not that he’d admit it to her. He glowered.
“What do you have against commitment?” she asked.
“I’m not opposed to commitment. I respect those who want it, like Noah and your parents.”
“You have to believe love is out there for you. That you can have it. That you deserve it.” She needed to stop the little touches. And the fucking psychoanalysis. Both were driving him berserk.
“Enough.” He closed his hands around hers and put them in her lap while scooting a few inches away from her.
Her spine stiffened. She jolted to her feet.
Now he felt a twinge of guilt, but chasing that was a buttload of defensiveness. Most women would hightail it out of here when he was in this mood, but, of course, Becca would dig in and fight.
Goddamn it if he didn’t like her even more for it.
She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear as they gazed at each other. A knock-down-drag-out fight was coming. He couldn’t wait.
She leaned over him, shocking him with a flash of the tantalizing view down her tight dress. Her fingers bracketed his chin to force eye contact. “You want to fight. Not tonight. I scare you, don’t I, Jake? Why is that?”
“You’re the one who should be scared. I’m at the end of my restraint chain. Go back to the hotel. If you stay, you won’t be sleeping alone.”
13
Becca’s heart had kicked into high gear well before Jake declared he wouldn’t be sleeping alone. A heart attack or faint might’ve happened if she hadn’t force herself to keep breathing.
She’d pushed him hard to give answers, and she felt a little guilty about it. For a moment, she thought he’d open up, but he’d shut down, as usual. This conversation wasn’t finished, but it wasn’t going anywhere at this point.
Light reflected off the TV, which gave a heated intensity to his gaze.
She swallowed. Initiating this filled her with an exhilarating blend of anxiety and excitement. What flared between her and Jake every time they kissed might consume her. It’d definitely leave a scar.
He didn’t pull himself out of her gentle grip on his chin. “Leave.”
“That’s not what you what.”
He slid his hand to the back of her neck to palm the back of her head, bringing her lips a breath away from his. “Last warning, Becca.”
Unable to maintain her balance, she released his chin and leaned into him until her knees rested on his.
“I think you’re capable of a lot more than you think.” She closed the distance. His mouth claimed hers in a burning rush as he drew her onto the sofa, bending her back against the onslaught. His tongue tangled with hers. She clutched his shirt, wrenching it upward, desperate to feel his bare flesh. When he didn’t help, she reached down to feel the hard length of him pressed against her abdomen. He shuddered against her touch.
No way in hell she was stopping now. Not when he was finally saying yes. “Help me take this dress off.”
He unzipped her dress and drew it up over her head. Then he kissed his way down her neck, slowly unhooking her bra. When he smoothed his hands down her arms, they trembled. His hand clenched her hair. The prickly stubble on his chin rubbed over her forehead. She flicked her tongue across his exposed neck, drawing out a groan from him. He pulled her head back and put his lips to hers.
Holy mother, he’d kissed her before, but not like this. His essence surrounded her, invading deep into her senses. His tongue touched hers. It teased. Until he pitched her into the driving need to take this to the next level. She wrapped her still heel-clad feet around his waist, grinding again. He felt huge.
The kiss deepened. Without breaking it, he scooped her up and carried her to a bedroom. Actually, she didn’t notice they’d changed rooms until she landed against a pillowy comforter. The bed was haphazardly made. Workout clothes were strewn over a chair and on the floor. A few dress shirts hung on hangers off the top of closet door.
He pinned her with his weight and ran a hand slowly down each leg to unbuckle her shoes. “Imaging you in only this thong has been driving me nuts.”
She wiggled.
“Don’t make this harder than it is,” he mumbled with a smile.
She chuckled as she massaged his crotch. “I’m making thishard?”
